I have researched medications used with LBD patients and have never read that epinephrine should never be used. My husband went to the dentist for a simple filling. They gave him novocaine with epinephrine and he had a very bad reaction...severe uncontrollable shaking from head to toe? He is totally exhausted and just can't seem to get enough sleep. He also seems to be having more dreams...not active dreams just dreams. Is there some where I can get a complete list of medications not to be given to LBD patients. I have three books and have searched the web but never came across this medication. He has still not completely recovered the reaction to the medication he was given. Will, he recover or are we in a lower place and he will not improve?

Tue May 22, 2012 5:57 pm

mockturtle

Joined: Wed Dec 30, 2009 1:46 pmPosts: 3213Location: WA

Re: Epinephrine

Epinephrine is adrenaline, which is produced in the body. It is often given in the case of anaphylactic shock, for example. I'm not sure why they put it in novocain except that a few people go into shock from novocain. Some people seem to have a reaction to the compound and it is thought it could be an allergic reaction to the preservative or even to the novocain. I think you can ask for novocain without the epinephrine. It is possible that he had an allergic reaction to a preservative or the novocain, itself. What did the dentist say about it?

_________________Pat [68] married to Derek [84] for 38 years; husband dx PDD/LBD 2005, probably began 2002 or earlier; late stage and in a SNF as of January 2011. Hospitalized 11/2/2013 and discharged to home Hospice. Passed away at home on 11/9/2013.

Tue May 22, 2012 8:47 pm

Pat

Joined: Sun Jun 24, 2007 5:35 pmPosts: 349

Re: Epinephrine

When my husband John had oral surgery a few months ago, the oral surgeon said they do not use novocaine any more--that he was using lidocaine, I think, as the local anesthesia. We opted not to use the heavier combination of propofol and verced for fear of a bad outcome for John. Even with just lidocaine, John took 3-4 weeks to be back to his "normal". He was not in bad shape, just duller and more tired overall. Now he is doing okay again. I hope that may give you some encouragement that this could be temporary.

When I wrote Treasures in the Darkness[i][/i] I researched like you for meds to beware of with LBD because all of us want that list. I have a section called "Managing Medicines and Supplements" that includes a pretty lengthy "beware list" of meds in the book. Many of those listed were given to me by Dr. Daniel Kaufer, who serves on the LBDA Scientific Advisory Council and is UNC's Director of Memory Disorders Program. He is an LBD specialist, wrote the foreword for my book, and I asked him to preview that section carefully so that I would not give bad advice in the book. The Whitworth and Throop books on LBD caregiving also include some meds to beware of.

But there really is no "complete" list out there as far as I know and even those like mine are going to be variable from patient to patient because LBD is so variable. Some meds will work fine for some LBD patients while they really hurt other LBD patients. The purpose of a beware list for me is to use it as a starting point for intelligent discussion (and a waving red flag) with medical professionals less familiar with LBD.

Thank you for the information that you all could give me. It was comforting to know that my husband will recover. We will just hang in there and wait to improve.I am making a drug list and will have it with me and will ask questions before he is given any medication.Thanks for being there.

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